Category: Pipes

Before we talk about what to do in a freeze-up, it’s worth considering what you can do now to insure against ever having one. The elementary precaution is to lag all pipes that are in a risky position – those in the loft, and those fixed to outside walls in unheated rooms, such as outhouses…

Pipe work in old houses is usually of lead; in modern houses it’s more likely to be copper, or even plastic on the cold water circuit. Plastic won’t fracture due to a freeze-up and there isn’t much risk of it with copper. But if you get a frozen lead pipe, stand by for a burst…